2. Definitions
• In the words of James Lundy, 'Plant layout identically
involves the allocation of space and the arrangement
of equipments in such a manner that overall operating
cost are minimized.’’
• The disposition of the various parts of a plant along
with all the equipments used is known as Plant Layout.
It should be designed that the plant functions most
effectively.
3. • A good layout results in comforts, convenience,
safety, efficiency of the plant. A poor layout
results in congestion, waste, frustration and
inefficiency.
• Development of a good layout depends on a series
of decisions already taken on location, capacity,
facility, manufacturing methods and material
handling.
4. Stages in Plant Layout
• Product demand.
• Product requirements.
• Components and parts analysis.
• Work methods and measurements.
• Machine requirements.
• Handling and movement requirements
• Space requirements.
5. Objectives of Plant Layout
• Economies in materials, facilitate manufacturing process and handling of
semi-finished and finished goods .
• Proper and efficient utilisation of available floor space.
• To ensure that work proceeds from one point to another point inside the
plant without any delay i.e. to avoid congestion and bottlenecks .
• Careful planning to avoid frequent changes in layout which may result in
undue increase in cost of production .
• To provide adequate safety to the workers from the accidents .
• To meet the quality and capacity requirements in the most economical
manner.
• To provide efficient material handling system .
• Provision of medical facilities and cafeteria at suitable places.
6. Features of a good layout
• There should be sufficient space for the workers as
well as for the equipments to perform their functions .
• Must provide adequate safety to workers against
injury or accidents e.g. fire fighting equipments , first
aid boxes.
• Supervision , coordination and control of the activity
should be effectively and easily executed.
• Their should be sufficient scope for making
adjustments and modifications.
7. Types of Plants Layout
• Product layout
• Process or functional layout
• Fixed layout
8. Product Layout
• Here the position of a particular machine is
determined at some definite stage or place where
the machine is required to perform some operation
from a sequence of operations designed to
manufacture the product .
Storage Machine Machine Machine Storage
1 A B C 2
9. Advantages
• Ensures smooth and regular flow of material
and finished goods.
• Provides economy in materials and labour by
minimising wastage .
• Reduces material handling.
• Low cost labour procurement and lesser
training requirement .
• Lesser inspection.
10. Disadvantages
• Product layout is of inflexible nature: the facilities are designed to
perform special operations. The machines cannot be inter changed
either in capacity or any other operation .
• Supervision is more difficult: the system requires more specialized
and skilled supervision .
• Require heavy capital investment: in this system there is
unavoidable duplication of facilities, which increases capital
investments and risks.
11. Process Layout
• In this layout more emphasis is P1 P2
given to specialisation or
functional homogeneity on Machine
various components of the A
system. All operations of
Machine Machine
similar nature are grouped
B D
together in the same
department. Here machines
performing same type of Machine
operations are installed at one C
place i.e. drilling, milling,
moulding, packaging. output
12. Advantages
• Lower capital investment: the production facilities can
be utilised to greater capacity with less duplication of
machines .
• Wide flexibility in production facilities : the system is
more flexible to adjust modifications and changes in
production strategies .
• Effective supervision .
• Machine breakdown does not disrupt production
schedules.
13. Disadvantages
• More material handling: here there is no definite channel through
which all work can flow . There is too much movement of goods
from one place to another inside the plant enhancing the chances
of material waste and higher costs.
• Requires highly skilled labour creating difficulty in labour
procurement.
• Inspection is more frequent and costlier.
• Machine loading is high .
• High investment in raw-materials and work in progress.
14. Fixed Layout
• This type of layout is used in those situations
where the goods are of such a size and weight
that their movement from one place to
another is not possible e.g. ship-building,
manufacturing of locomotives, construction of
dams and bridges .
15. Advantages
• Layout is simple and capable of frequent
adjustments both with respect with respect to
product and the process.
• Labourers and workers can be employed and
remain busy throughout the process in one
work.
16. Disadvantages
• Since machines and equipments are
transferred to some particular place, heavy
and sophisticated equipment cannot be used
in such cases.
• Due to low efficiency of men and machines
this layout is suitable only for some special
type of project and for the production of
smaller amount of items
